CBI asked to probe Kandla Port Trust land leases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against a former chairman and two officials of the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) and two private firms for irregularities in land allotment.”The accused officials of KPT in conspiracy with private companies concealed facts to change the purpose of land and transferred land at rates much lower than prescribed rates,” said a CBI statement issued here Monday.

“The ex-chairman of the KPT against whom the case is registered is A. Janardan Rao. Two KPT official are K.C. Vyas and H.C. Venkatesh. The private firms are J.M. Bakshi and Company, Kandla, and Tejamal Bhai and Company, Kandla,” a CBI official said.

The agency conducted searches at 10 places in Delhi, Kandla and Surat in Gujarat and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh at the official and residential premises of the accused and the private firms.

“During searches, incriminating documents have been seized indicating involvement of the accused persons in the case. Further investigation is in progress,” the statement added.

Kandla in Kutch district of Gujarat is one of the country’s leading ports.